Anxiety, age, education and activities of daily living as predictors of the occurrence of frailty syndrome in patient with heart rhythm disorders

Type of funding sources: None.

Cardiac arrhythmias associated with psychological changes that occur in the conducting system and frequent coexistence of coronary artery disease and hypertension are more common in elderly patients than in younger ones. Aim of the study was to evaluate the relationships between anxiety and depression and the presence of frailty syndrome in patients with heart rhythm disorder who had been qualified for pacemaker implantation.

171 consecutive patients (mean age 73,91 ± 6,72; 48,5% woman) with qualified to pacemaker implantation were included into the study. Patients were divided according type of heart rhythm disorders: 90 patients with atrio-ventricular blocks (AVB) and 81 with sinus node dysfunction (SND). To evaluate frailty syndrome we used Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), to recognize anxiety and depression Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used. Obtained data were analyzed and multiple regression model using stepwise input was created.

Frailty syndrome was diagnosed in 54,46% of the included patients. Average general TFI score was 4,60 ± 2,34: in the physical component 2,90 ± 1,65; in the psychological component 0,69 ± 0,76 and 1.05 ± 0,74 in the social components. Age, number of years education anxiety and activities of daily living were found to be important predictors of the higher level of frailty syndrome. Detail results are presented in table below.

Anxiety, age, education and the activities of daily living can be predictors factors of the occurrence of frailty syndrome in patients with heart rhythm disorders who have been qualified for pacemaker implantation.